Tom Cruise says he may have been victim of phone hacking

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London, May 17 : Tom Cruise has claimed in an interview that his mobile phone may have been hacked by journalists working for Rupert Murdoch's News of the World in the past.

The Hollywood icon did not elaborate further, but his comments make him by far the highest profile celebrity to come forwa! rd in th e ongoing scandal.

The 'Mission: Impossible' star also gave an insight into how he would handle such an invasion of his privacy - and vowed to "stand up to bullies."

Cruise, 49, is one of the most powerful celebrities on the planet - with an estimated wealth of 150 million pounds.

He has huge financial firepower to take on Murdoch's News Corp, which owned the now defunct News of the World.

If it was proven that the actor had been hacked, it would also be a public relations disaster for the media company, and would put Murdoch under even more pressure to step down.

In an interview with Playboy magazine Cruise was asked: "The night Princess Diana died you called CNN to talk about how the intrusiveness of the press had gotten out of hand. This phone-hacking scandal on Fleet Street has closed one major newspaper and reached all the way to Rupert Murdoch. Have you ever been hacked'"

Cruise replied: "Maybe."

In the Playboy interview, Cruise gave a clear indication of his plan of action.

He said that, when he is wronged, he first asks for an apology - but often takes things further because "you have to" stand up for yourself.

"There's one thing you know with a bully," the Daily Mail quoted him as saying.

"I don't care how big or mean they are. There are different ways to do it....but sometimes just confronting them works," he said. (ANI)